1. Quotation Marks ("..."): Paton primarily uses double quotation marks to enclose the words spoken by characters, indicating direct speech.
Example: "My son," [Stephen] said, "let us pray for the souls of those who have died in the troubles of this land."
2. Dashes (-): Dashes are often used to mark sudden interruptions, pauses, or changes in tone in the speech.
Example: "He was – he was with Absalom, when Absalom killed Arthur Jarvis."
3. Ellipses (...): Paton sometimes uses ellipses within dialogue to indicate that a character's speech trails off, implying a pause or hesitation.
Example: "You see, I thought – when I saw this – that perhaps..."
4. Brackets ([...]): Square brackets are occasionally used to enclose additional commentary or interruptions within dialogue.
Example: "It is hard, isn't it, [Stephen] thought, because we never know the end."
5. Inverted Commas ("...'): Paton rarely uses single quotation marks, but when he does, they typically enclose the thoughts or internal speech of a character.
Example: 'Absalom – oh Absalom – what have I done with my son – what have I done!'
6. Colons (:): Colons are used to introduce dialogue when the speaker is not explicitly mentioned, particularly in cases of direct address.
Example: "But we must take our burdens as they are given to us: this is the truth as I have found it."
7. Exclamation Marks (!): Exclamation marks are employed to convey strong emotions such as surprise, excitement, or emphasis.
Example: "Why, Msimangu! You must come inside!"
Paton's punctuation in the dialogue serves to provide clarity, convey emotions, and create dramatic effects, enhancing the overall reading experience of "Cry, the Beloved Country."